Conferences/Workshops/Seminarshttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/1
Wed, 10 Oct 2018 08:51:02 GMT2018-10-10T08:51:02ZIdeology and Representation of Women Political Aspirants in the 2017 General Election Primaries Campaign Posters in Nairobi County: A Cultural Studies Approachhttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/3896
Ideology and Representation of Women Political Aspirants in the 2017 General Election Primaries Campaign Posters in Nairobi County: A Cultural Studies Approach
Joseph, Nyanoti
Although the Kenyan Constitution stipulates that women be represented by at least a third in all public institutions, including political positions, this expectation seems too ambitious. Feminists feel that Kenya is a patriarchal society where politics, like other leadership positions, is male-controlled. The common narrative is that politics in Kenya is approached from a patriarchal perspective, including creating campaign posters of women aspirants. The present study set out to investigate this assumption by critically analyzing campaign posters. Using the semiotic approach, the researcher analyzed campaign posters for women aspirants in the primaries’ nominations for the 2017 general election to decode meanings embedded in these posters. Findings indicate that, much as these posters contain messages that are expected to persuade Nairobi voters to elect these women, they are replete with hidden meanings that promote patriarchal ideologies. They represent the women aspirants in their stereotypical roles as mothers, nurturers and passive beauties for the male gaze. The researcher concludes by suggesting that unless people look at media texts, like campaign posters, critically these posters are not going to help in promoting leaders who can bring about social change, including gender equality in politics. The researcher recommends promotion of media literacy at all levels of society, which is the main project of media cultural studies.
A Conference presentation by Dr. Joseph Nyanoti, a lecturer of Journalism and Media Studies at USIU-Africa during the International Communication Association (ICA) Conference - held in Prague, Czech Republic from May 24 to May 28, 2018.
Tue, 01 May 2018 00:00:00 GMThttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/38962018-05-01T00:00:00ZFactors influencing the diffusion of learning management systems by instructors in higher educationhttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/3154
Factors influencing the diffusion of learning management systems by instructors in higher education
Macharia, Jimmy K.N.; Nyakwende, Emmanuel
Among the numerous diffusion studies conducted in recent years, the survey of Learning
Management System (LMS) use in Africa conducted in 2008 by United Nations, Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted the rather low use of formal Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in universities, colleges and schools across much of the African continent. Consequently, since the problem of technology rejection and underutilization is common, the purpose of this study was to empirically test a dynamic, more complete, and parsimonious technology acceptance model (DTAM) that institutions of higher education can use in the deployment of LMS to increase the adoption and diffusion of these technologies by university instructors for teaching and learning.The study used a cross-sectional survey questionnaire distributed to a sample of 109 university instructors distributed in 16 universities in Kenya. The result showed that perceived resources, availability of ICTs, university leadership,
perceived ease of use (PEOU), and LMS relevance are among the top five dominant characteristics that significantly and directly impacted instructors’ intention to use and actual usage of LMS. DTAM was empirically proved to be stable by a number model statistical indices including Normed Chi-Square= 1.073, GFI=0.908, RMSEA=0.026,, IFI=0.963, TLI=0.948, and CFI=0.95.4.
Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMThttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/31542011-01-01T00:00:00ZMarksign Media Promotions Ltd.: Financing for expansion when cash flow statements “Say No”http://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/3153
Marksign Media Promotions Ltd.: Financing for expansion when cash flow statements “Say No”
Macharia, Jimmy K.N.
Evelyn Majibo, the CEO of Marksign Media Promotions Limited (MMP) believed that “nothing is impossible in business.” However, by January 2011 one thing had proofed almost impossible to her -how to get credit from banks or even machine vendors with the current cash flows in her business. For two months four banks and three vendors had turned down her request for a credit line. “I had promised my co-directors Fredrick and Robert that we shall get credit to buy a second printing machine worth Kenya shillings 2.5 Million.” Evelyn reflected.
Fredrick, the Chairperson of the board of directors, had called a meeting for all directors to be held on 30th January 2011. Evelyn had struggled with what to do to fulfil her promise after the banks and vendors had turned down her proposal. On 30th January, 2011, as Evelyn sat in her office chair getting ready for the board meeting, the reflection of what recommendation to give to the board was not only disturbing but frustrating. “What recommendation will I give to my co-directors” Evelyn wondered as she sipped some warm water. “Do I recommend that we make more efforts to solicit for a bank loan, or visit other vendors in the hope of obtaining credit line, or wait for the next one year to accumulate sufficient funds to buy the printer?” Evelyn wondered.
Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMThttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/31532010-01-01T00:00:00ZTowards Quality Assurance in Postgraduate Supervision: The Case of EMOD at USIUhttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/3150
Towards Quality Assurance in Postgraduate Supervision: The Case of EMOD at USIU
Macharia, Jimmy K.N.
Good supervision is fundamental to successful postgraduate research, yet it is a teaching-learning process disappointingly understood. This may be the main reason why students experience the process as complex and often unstable. Supervisors increasingly find themselves supervising matureage professionals who possess equal or greater knowledge of the research subject, thus countering the traditional ‘apprenticeship’ model of graduate studies such that have been done points out that
the majority of graduate enrollments at the doctoral level in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America are in professional and practitioner oriented fields. Likewise, in several countries and in particular in developing countries like Kenya, supervisors find that postgraduate students are less prepared for higher degree studies than in the past. The above two phenomenal results is increasing an unprecedented pressures, particularly on young and inexperienced supervisors. In Kenya there is an awakening on quality assurance by many universities, some are going for ISO 2000 assessment, others adopting other initiatives, and the just emerging Association of
East African Universities (AEAU) quality assurance initiatives that are going on in a number of universities. However, quality assurance at the graduate research is still an illusion that requires urgent redress, since many masters and PHD candidates are giving up along the way due to frustrations on the supervision process or the lack of quality on the same.
This paper therefore is a case study of quality assurance initiates for supervision of the graduate projects for the Executive Master of Science in Organizational Development project at the United states International University (USIU). The article focuses on the indicators of quality supervision and highlights the vast range of problem areas presently documented as significant areas of concern for both graduate students and their supervisors. Additionally, the paper presents preliminary findings on an ongoing study which aims to survey all Kenyan universities about current supervision and evaluative practices in postgraduate supervision.
Building on literature and the previous survey-based research results, this study develops the USIU EMOD framework case of quality assurance and enhancement that identifies the problems and challenges met by students and supervisors in the graduate research supervision. The University’s planning processes provide a framework for monitoring and improving program quality through collection and analysis of data and the assessment of performance; however the set of indicators of quality assurance are neither explicit nor exhaustive. As part of the originality of this paper a set of key indicators for quality graduate research supervision at higher education will be presented. The findings will be of immediate and practical application by universities, where the supervision process and success will then be measured against key indicators and development strategies and targets for improvement identified. These indicators will be critical in achieving the link between program learning outcomes, strategies, goals and performance.
Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://erepo.usiu.ac.ke/11732/31502008-01-01T00:00:00Z